The Transformer: New era for the special relationship

It was Gordon Brown's Love Actually moment. No, he didn't do a Hugh Grant by launching a public tirade against the United States President as he stood next to him. But he showed it was possible to love America without loving George Bush.

In front of a sweltering, sun-drenched band of 20 US and 20 British journalists at Camp David, President Bush tried to recreate the magic of his special relationship with Tony Blair. At their joint press conferences, the President often looked admiringly into Mr Blair's eyes, as if marvelling at the then Prime Minister's ability to articulate the Bush world-view better than he could himself.

Last week, he showered Mr Brown with compliments and called him "Gordon". But Gordon wasn't going to be wooed. He insisted that Britain's historic relationship with the US was in its national interest. But subtly, and without causing too much offence, he made clear the personal bond between President Bush and Mr Blair was history too. The special relationship was being redefined in front of our eyes.

It was a difficult balancing act, but Mr Brown pulled it off. He showed that, unlike his predecessor, he was prepared to differ with the President by speaking of "full and frank discussions". The message was coded but unmistakable.

The tone was set when Mr Brown arrived at Camp David wearing his trademark business suit even though it was a Sunday. The President greeted him in a sports jacket. Mr Brown's attire was fitting. "Business-like" was the phrase on his aides' lips throughout the visit. They must have watched The Godfather on the flight: the relationship is now "business, not personal".

Where does it go from here? In Iraq, it is very possible the two countries will diverge while claiming they are united. The Prime Minister, while insisting there was no change of policy change, made plain he wants Britain's 5,500 troops out of Iraq as soon as possible. He will act on the advice of "commanders on the ground" in the Basra area, but since the head of the Army has already said their presence is "exacerbating" the situation, that shouldn't be a problem once Iraqi forces are trained.

America's strategy will be determined largely by a report next month by General David Petraeus, the US commander in Iraq, about the success of the "surge" involving 30,000 more troops in the Baghdad area. President Bush, under mounting pressure after the deaths of more than 3,600 US personnel in an operation costing the US £5bn a month, may find some crumbs of comfort that the "surge" is working. Kenneth Pollack, from the Brookings Institution research group, returned from an eight-day visit to Iraq last week to say the war might just be won after all. On all his previous trips, he went home more pessimistic than on his last one. Yet political progress in Iraq is painfully slow. The parliament has taken a summer break and six Sunni ministers have quit the cabinet.

Mr Brown appears to believe the struggle in Afghanistan, however difficult, is more winnable. He described Afghanistan as "the front line against terrorism", a phrase that President Bush uses regularly about Iraq.

Without doing the personal stuff, Mr Brown will be happy to work closely with President Bush on issues such as Darfur and the stalled world trade talks, where there is common agreement on the need for progress. Military and intelligence co-operation will deepen in an uncertain world. Britain is buying a new Trident nuclear submarine system with American missiles; two new aircraft carriers will be equipped with American fighters and helicopters, and the US will use its air base at Menwith Hill in North Yorkshire for its controversial missile defence system.

The Prime Minister will strike out on his own on the need for a renewed effort on Africa. In a speech at the United Nations on Tuesday, he launched a new campaign to achieve the Millennium Development Goals for the world's poorest nations, set by world leaders in 2000. He believes that the annual ritual of squeezing promises out of G8 leaders, including President Bush, is not delivering.

The PM's initiative will not be a five-minute wonder. It will be a cornerstone of his foreign policy. "In a couple of years, people will look back on the speech as a turning point," one aide said with surprising optimism.

During his visit, the Prime Minister predicted that US-UK links would strengthen in the years to come. There is one good reason why they might. President Bush's term ends in 17 months, and if the Democrats regain power, the relationship would become special again. It might even get personal.